Ayade to employ 10, 000 workers to cover agriculture, environment, security, medics
Oru Leonard
In view of the COVID-19 lockdown and its attendant consequences on livelihoods leading to job losses, daily income difficulties, waste of youthful energy, and in order to reduce public anxiety, youth restiveness and lower social tension, the proactive governor of Cross River State, Professor Ben Ayade has mapped out a “COVID-19 sustainable livelihood palliative”, to contain the present and post effects of the pandemic on the economy of the state.
In a statement signed by Barr Tina Banku Agbor, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Cross River state is set to recruit young men and women from the ages of 18-35, with the exception of those in the health sector, on a flat monthly salary of 30000 naira.
According to the SSG, “Recruitment will be done as follows:
1. Agriculture
To ready the state’s agricultural sub-sector for a major role in a post-COVID-19 Nigeria, 5000 young people are to be recruited under a revolutionary agricultural Programme that utilizes modern farming techniques, mechanization and digitalization.
Her Excellency, Ambassador Nkoyo Toyo and the Commissioner for Agriculture, Ntufam Okon Nyong Owuna are to oversee the exercise.
Ayade Industrial Park is the venue for the recruitment exercise.
2. Environment
Another set of 1000 young people are to be recruited into various agencies of government, including the Green Police, whose core mandate include urban beautification,
Premises of the Cross River State Properties and Investment Limited (CROSPIL), State Housing, Calabar is the venue for the recruitment exercise for this category.
Hon. Commissioner for Environment, Hon. Mfon Bassey and his Urban Renewal Counterpart, Hon. Emmanuel Edward, are to take charge of the exercise.
3. Security
2000 young people are to be recruited into the state Homeland Security and the Border Patrol Agency with the key objective being the effective enforcement of the lockdown of the state’s extensive border lines.
U. J. Esuene Stadium is the venue for the recruitment exercise, with Brig Gen John Agim (rtd) and Director General of Border Commission, Mr. Noel Ugbong being in charge.
4. Health
In order to build capacity for COVID-19 response in the event of a full blown pandemic in the state, the following are to be recruited with immediate effect: 400 doctors, 600 nurses and 1000 health officers for COVID-19 surveillance across every village in the state.
Recruitment will be done through Ministry of Health with the Honorable Commissioner, Dr Beta Edu and the Head of Service, Dr Chris Ekpenyong Ita in charge.
The recruitment exercises are to hold simultaneously on Tuesday, April 21, 2020 and applicants are to wear a nose mask as non compliant applicants will be denied entry into the recruitment grounds.
